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Fox takes a narrow win in key demo, while CBS draws the largest audience

ABC's new drama "Scandal" got off to a decent start Thursday night, while CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" took the top ratings for the night and "Fox" took a narrow overall ratings win thanks to "American Idol," according to preliminary numbers.

Besides being first in the advertiser- cherished 18-49 demographic with a 3.0 rating/9 share, Fox was second in total viewers with an average of 10.6 million throughout the night. "American Idol" at 8 p.m. was down 10 percent from last week with a 3.8/12 in the demo. Its 13.8 million total viewers made it the night's most-watched program. "Touch" was down 15 percent in the demo, receiving a 2.3/7 with 7.4 million total viewers.

CBS was second in ratings and first in total viewers with an average 2.9/9 and 12.3 million. The network had slight declines for most of its primetime slate. "The Big Bang Theory" at 8, while the night's top-rated program, slipped 11 percent to a 4.2/12 in the demo, with 13 million total viewers. "Rules of Engagement" at 8:30 was flat with last week, receiving a 2.7/8 in the demo and 8.8 million total viewers. "Person of Interest" at 9 ticked down 12 percent from last week, posting a 2.9/8 with 13.5 million total viewers, while "The Mentalist" the following hour was off 11 percent from last week with a 2.4/7 in the demo and 12.5 million total viewers.

ABC took third place in the demo and total viewers with an average 2.1/6 and 7.6 million. "Missing" at 8 dipped down to a series low of 1.4/5 in the demo and 7.2 million total viewers. "Grey's Anatomy" at 9 dropped slightly from its last original airing three weeks ago, reaching a season low of 2.8/8 with 8 million total viewers. The premiere of "Scandal" at 10 posted a 2.1/6 — tied with the mid-season premiere of "Missing" — and 7.4 million total viewers.

Univision came in fourth in the demo and total viewers with an average 1.5/4 and 3.6 million. "Una Familia Con Suerte" at 8 received a 1.4/5 and 3.5 million total viewers, while "Abismo de Pasion" the following hour drew a 1.4/4 and 3.5 million total viewers. "La Que No Podia Amar" at 10 posted a 1.5/4 and 3.8 million total viewers.

NBC came in fifth in ratings and total viewers with an average 1.1/3 and 2.7 million, hitting lows across the board for its original Thursday-night roster. "Community" at 8 hit a series low in the demo, dropping 24 percent to a 1.3/5, with 3 million total viewers. "30 Rock" at 8:30 also hit a series low, dropping 20 percent to a 1.2/4 in the demo with 2.8 million total viewers. Following a repeat of "The Office" at 9, "Up All Night" slipped 15 percent in the demo to a series low of 1.1/3, with 2.6 million total viewers. The freshman series "Awake" at 10 dipped 10 percent from last week, drawing its lowest ratings to date with a 0.9/3 in the demo 2.5 million total viewers.